Looks like AARP can lower its age requirement to 24, because that’s now when you’re over the hill.

Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada came to that conclusion by studying digital performance records of 3,305 StarCraft 2 game players, ages 16 to 44. The researchers used complex statistical modeling from massive amounts of data to understand how players reacted to opponents and how long they took to react in gaming situations.

“After around 24 years of age, players show slowing in a measure of cognitive speed that is known to be important for performance,” said Joe Thompson, a psychology doctoral student and lead author of the study. “This cognitive performance decline is present even at higher levels of skill.”

However, it’s not all bad news.

“Our research tells a new story about human development,” Thompson said. “Older players, though slower, seem to compensate by employing simpler strategies and using the game’s interface more efficiently than younger players, enabling them to retain their skill, despite cognitive motor-speed loss.”

Thompson said that our cognitive-motor capacities are not stable across adulthood, but are constantly in flux.

“Our day-to-day performance is a result of the constant interplay between change and adaptation,” he said.

I’m just happy that I’m old enough for some sweet discounts at Luby’s.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit a city is to shop at local stores and eat and drink at local restaurants and bars. Sure, you know what you’re getting by patronizing a chain operation. The fun, though, is in discovering something new and knowing you can only experience it in one place.

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) feels the same way. The AEG Facilities-operated venue recently selected the Groundwork Coffee Co. as its official coffee and catering supplier and operator of the venue’s retail coffee locations.

“We felt utilizing a local company with a great product, sustainable business model, and social responsibility as part of their culture was the way to go,” said Brad Gessner, CFE, senior vice president and general manager of the LACC and an IAVM member. “From field to cup, Groundwork’s goal is to provide the highest quality product to customers while maintaining the well-being of our communities, both locally and at origin.”

New retail Groundwork stores are being installed in the West and South Halls of the LACC and will be open for business in mid April. Guests who come to the LACC will have the opportunity to visit the full service, stand-alone Groundwork concession stands that will provide coffee beverages. Groundwork certified organic coffee will also be served at all other food and beverage locations throughout the South and West Halls of the LACC.

“For almost 25 years, we have taken great pride in serving the finest, specialty-grade organic coffee on earth to our customers at our seven retail locations in Southern California. Groundwork proudly offers certified organic coffee from every growing region in the world, always freshly roasted at our local Groundwork Roastery,” said Eddy Cola, principal for Groundwork Coffee Co. “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to partner with AEG and the City of Los Angeles in sharing our diverse coffee, tea, and food offerings with patrons of the LACC. We’re confident that our steadfast commitment to quality—reflected in all of our products and service—will be appreciated and enjoyed by all.”

The announcement is part of the venue’s “Taste of LA” food and beverage experience.

“We are looking forward to continuing developing the Taste of LA brand with the addition of more local flavors,” said Rian Hanneman, director of food and beverage for LACC’s Taste of LA. “When people come to Los Angeles, a big part of the experience is the local food and beverage…things found only in L.A. We think the attendees will enjoy exploring L.A. through the food offerings here in the Los Angeles Convention Center.”

Live Nation Lands New Outdoor NYC Venue
—Encore
“The seasonal venue will likely remain open through late September or early October, weather-depending, and double as the latest showcase for JBL in midtown Manhattan.”

From Fitbits to smart watches to Disney’s MagicBands, companies are lining up to know more about you all in the name of customer and guest experience. Let’s add Lightwave to that list.

Lightwave is new wearable that debuted at the 2014 South by Southwest conference in Austin. Attendees at a Pepsi-sponsored event linked the wristbands to personal information, such as age and hometown (the wristbands can be linked anonymously, too). The wristbands measured audience movement, temperature, and sound levels, and the DJ and audiovisual team adjusted the environment and song selection based on the information received. Lightwave uses low-energy Bluetooth for events with fewer than 500 people, or it uses a radio-signal for larger crowds. Real time analytics are available to organizers.

“At a trade show it might be used to tell you how people are feeling during a keynote or what talking points are resonating [by measuring applause levels], or what booths people are spending time at,” Rana June, Lightwave founder and CEO, told BizBash. “And that can be broken down by gender. Or it could be very helpful to know this bar has a wait, but the one over there doesn’t, and we can redirect people.”

Want to watch a short, rave-inspired promo video about this new bio-reactive device? Good, because we have it for you below.

Smart Meetings just published a list of power players in the meeting and event industry, and one of our IAVM members—Karen Kotowski, CEO of the Convention Industry Council—made the list.

Here’s what the magazine wrote about Kotowski:

Under Kotowski’s collaborative-style leadership, the CIC has developed several signature programs, including the CMP designation, Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) and CIC Hall of Leaders. It also has increased the availability of certification programs and best-practice standards.

Check out the article for more of Kotowski’s story and to read about the other power players. Congratulations, Karen!